Pulmonary embolism and stroke in relation to pregnancy: how can high-risk women be identified?
PMID 11854635 · American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 2002 · DOI 10.1067/mob.2002.119177
Authors: Helena Salonen Ros; Paul Lichtenstein; Rino Bellocco; Gunnar Petersson; Sven Cnattingius
Abstract
Risks of circulatory diseases are increased substantially during late pregnancy and around the time of delivery. This study was undertaken to determine whether preeclampsia, multiple pregnancy, or cesarean delivery account for the majority of pregnancy-related risks of pulmonary embolism and stroke (caused by hemorrhage, infarction, and intracranial venous thrombosis). We analyzed a population-based cohort of 1,003,489 deliveries in Sweden. Relative risks of pulmonary embolism and stroke were modeled by use of Poisson regression. Preeclampsia was associated with 3- to 12-fold increases in risks of pulmonary embolism and stroke during late pregnancy, at delivery, and in the puerperium, and similar increases in risks were also observed for multiple pregnancies and cesarean delivery. These strong associations could not explain the overall pregnancy-related risks of pulmonary embolism and stroke. Preeclampsia, multiple birth, and cesarean delivery are important risk factors for pulmonary embolism and stroke, but they do not account for the majority of the excess risks associated with pregnancy.
Adult; Cesarean Section; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy, Multiple; Puerperal Disorders; Pulmonary Embolism; Regression Analysis; Risk Assessment; Stroke
Cite
Helena Salonen Ros; Paul Lichtenstein; Rino Bellocco; Gunnar Petersson; Sven Cnattingius. Pulmonary embolism and stroke in relation to pregnancy: how can high-risk women be identified? American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (2002). PMID 11854635. DOI 10.1067/mob.2002.119177.